Who Is Being Given Humanitarian Parole To Temporarily Enter the Country: Latest Data

Published Sep 6, 2024

When noncitizens arrive at one of over 300 U.S. ports of entry, either along the border or at an international airport, border officials must assess whether each person can show that they are allowed to enter the United States (i.e., whether they are admissible) or whether they are not admissible (i.e., inadmissible).[1] With new requirements many individuals and families must use the government’s mobile application CBP One[2] to first schedule an appointment at ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border. The number of appointments available is restricted so currently many noncitizens are not allowed to actually come to a port of entry.

This report focuses on individuals and families whose port of entry officials allow temporary entry through the exercise of specific legal provisions for humanitarian parole. Under humanitarian parole, foreign nationals are given a temporary entry permit to the United States for an urgent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit.[3] These data are based on case-by-case internal government records updated through the end of July 2024 recently received by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).

Although this report focuses only on those cases where CBP recorded parole as the final disposition, other dispositions such as issuing a Notice to Appear in Immigration Court or referring a person for a credible fear interview may also allow a noncitizen entry. TRAC’s public dashboard accompanying this report contains details on all of these disposition reasons and is now updated with the latest data through the end of July 2024.[4]

According to data obtained from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through TRAC’s Freedom of Information Act requests and then analyzed by the Clearinghouse, the number of inadmissible foreign nationals arriving at ports of entry has increased substantially in recent years, as has the percent of those “inadmissibles” that have been allowed into the country under the humanitarian parole authority.

Among all inadmissibles,[5] between FY 2012 and FY 2024 these paroled migrants accounted for a growing proportion of all inadmissibles first during the period FY 2014 – FY 2016. A peak was reached during FY 2015 when 40.5 percent of all inadmissibles were granted humanitarian parole. The proportion then fell and reached a low of just 16.2 percent during FY 2019.

Recently, the proportion has been growing again. During FY 2023, 37.7 percent of all inadmissibles were granted humanitarian parole by port officials, and thus far during FY 2024, the figure is only slightly lower at 37.2 percent. See Figure 1 and Table 1 below.

Humanitarian Parole by Country of Citizenship

Increases in the number and proportion of these migrants granted humanitarian parole generally coincide with world events and the creation of special humanitarian parole programs. The peak period during FY 2014 – FY 2016 is explained by the large numbers admitted from Cuba. The Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP) was created in 2007. It allowed “U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to apply for parole for their family members in Cuba. If granted parole, these family members [came]… to the United States without waiting for their immigrant visas to become available. Once in the United States, CFRP Program beneficiaries may apply for work authorization while they wait to apply for lawful permanent resident status.”

During FY 2012 just 1 percent of those granted humanitarian parole were Cubans. This jumped to 27 percent in FY 2013, 47 percent in FY 2014, 57 percent in FY 2015, and 59 percent during FY 2016. After that, it fell to virtually 0 percent during FY 2020 – FY 2022. Since then, it has begun growing again and so far during FY 2024 Cubans have made up 16 percent of all individuals granted humanitarian parole by port officials. See Table 2.

Starting in FY 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a surge of individuals and families from that country seeking temporary refuge in this country. TRAC previously reported on this surge in its May 2022 report. “On April 21, 2022, the United States announced the launch of ‘Uniting for Ukraine,’ It provided a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who were outside the United States to come to the U.S. and stay temporarily under humanitarian parole. Ukrainians must have a supporter in this country who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay.[6]

During FY 2012 – FY 2021, citizens from Ukraine made up very few persons granted humanitarian parole. Then during FY 2022 it suddenly jumped so that 66 percent of those granted humanitarian parole were from Ukraine. They remained the largest single component during FY 2023 although their proportion fell to 25 percent. This year while still significant, their percentage has fallen to 14 percent. See Table 2.

The largest component so far this year has been Haitians who currently make up 32 percent. Up until FY 2023 they rarely received humanitarian parole by port officials. Venezuelans also became a significant component during FY 2023 when migrants from this country suddenly jumped from virtually 0 percent to 17 percent. Both these increases reflect a special program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. For this program, the U.S. government announced they would grant advance travel authorization to up to 30,000 noncitizens each month on a case-by-case basis for citizens from these four countries.[7]

During other periods when these surges weren’t occurring, citizens from our neighbors to the north, Canada, and to the south, Mexico, made up the largest component. This results from the many cross-border ties that citizens from our two neighboring countries have with residents in this country. For example, Canadians and Mexicans may seek humanitarian parole in order to be present or assist at special family events or to receive urgent specialized medical attention.